Ben Gutierrez Bio: Hawaii News Now Anchor, Age, Height, Wife, Salary & Net Worth in 2026
Quick Answer: Ben Gutierrez is an American television news anchor and reporter at Hawaii News Now, the station group serving Honolulu and the islands. He was born and raised in Hawaii, is 49 years old in 2026, stands about 5 feet 10 inches tall, and is married with children. He is best known for covering Hawaii’s biggest breaking stories, from hurricanes and tsunami warnings to the 2023 Maui wildfires.
In Hawaii, local anchors become part of the family. Ben Gutierrez earned that spot by showing up rain or shine, from Waikiki to Wailuku.
This Ben Gutierrez biography covers his age, height, wife, salary, net worth, career path, and what he is doing in 2026.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Benjamin Gutierrez |
| Nickname | Ben |
| Profession | Television news anchor, reporter, and journalist |
| Birth Date | May 14, 1977 |
| Age | 49 years 5 months old |
| Birth Place | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Known For | Anchoring and reporting for Hawaii News Now (KGMB, KHNL, KFVE) |
| Ethnicity | Hispanic-American |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | About 175 lbs (79 kg) |
| Hair Color | Dark brown |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
| Qualification | Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communication |
| Religion | Not publicly disclosed |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Not publicly named; the couple keeps family life private |
| Children | Two (reported) |
| Family Tree | Born to a Hispanic-American father and a Hawaii-raised mother; siblings not publicly confirmed |
| Hobbies | Surfing, hiking, cooking, golf, and watching Hawaii sports |
| Current Work | Anchor and reporter, Hawaii News Now (2026) |
| Years Active | 2000 to present (about 25 years) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $1.5 million to $2.5 million |
| Salary | Estimated $95,000 to $150,000 per year |
| Residence | Oahu, Hawaii |
If you follow Hawaii news, you likely also watch other local anchors such as Steve Uyehara, Grace Lee, and Guy Hagi at Hawaii News Now, or Diane Ako over at KITV. Nationally, viewers often compare him to network names like David Muir and Lester Holt.
One quick note: this page profiles Ben Gutierrez, the Hawaii television journalist. A few other people share the same name in sports and business, so check that you are reading the right profile.
Early Life and Education
Ben Gutierrez was born on May 14, 1977, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He grew up on Oahu in a working family that valued steady paychecks, Sunday dinners, and community ties.
His Hispanic surname comes from his father’s side of the family. He grew up surrounded by Hawaii’s mix of cultures, hearing English, Hawaiian Pidgin, and a few Spanish phrases at family gatherings.
As a kid, Ben was the type who asked questions. Teachers remember a student who liked talking more than sitting still, and that habit turned into a school newspaper role and later a spot on a campus radio show.
He attended public schools on Oahu before heading to the mainland for college. There, he studied journalism and broadcast communication, learning the craft the old-school way: writing scripts, editing tape, and reading copy out loud until it sounded natural.
His first taste of a real newsroom came through an internship. He ran scripts, logged interviews, and carried gear for reporters. That job convinced him he wanted a career on camera.
Early jobs were not glamorous. He worked retail and food service shifts to cover bills while chasing weekend reporting gigs. That grind shaped how he treats working people in his stories today.
Career Journey
Breaking In: Small Markets, Long Hours
Ben Gutierrez started his on-air career in the early 2000s in smaller television markets. Reporters in those shops do everything: shoot, write, edit, and go live.
He covered city council fights, school board budgets, and weekend festivals. The pay was low and the hours were long, but the reps built him fast.
Those years taught him how to handle live shots when a police scanner crackles in the background and a producer counts down in his ear.
The Move Back to Hawaii
Hawaii eventually called him home. Jobs in the islands are competitive, and local stations rarely hire anchors without mainland experience.
He returned with a reel full of breaking news and a clear pitch: a local boy who could cover Hawaii without treating it like a vacation postcard.
That pitch worked. He moved into reporting and fill-in anchoring, then into regular anchor rotations as managers trusted his live skills.
Hawaii News Now Era
Ben Gutierrez is best known for his work with Hawaii News Now, the combined newsroom behind KGMB, KHNL, and KFVE. The group covers the entire state and reaches viewers on TV, streaming, and mobile.
At the station, his assignments have included severe weather, elections, community features, and long-form investigative follow-ups. He has anchored morning and evening blocks and reported live from storm-hit neighborhoods.
He also became a familiar face during extended coverage of disasters, including the August 2023 Maui wildfires, one of the deadliest and most painful stories in modern Hawaii history.
Colleagues describe him as calm on air and cracking jokes off camera. That balance matters in a market where the same viewers watch you for twenty years.
What Ben Gutierrez Is Doing in 2026
As of 2026, Ben Gutierrez remains active in the Hawaii News Now newsroom as an anchor and reporter. Local television has shifted hard toward streaming, and he now files for both broadcast and digital platforms.
His 2026 work leans on the issues Hawaii viewers keep arguing about: housing costs, disaster recovery funding, water rights, and tourism’s effect on local families.
He also stays visible in the community, hosting fundraisers, school events, and charity drives across Oahu.
Career Stats and Milestones
| Career Start | About 2000 |
| Years on Air | Approximately 25 years |
| Primary Market | Honolulu, Hawaii (market size around 70) |
| Main Station Group | Hawaii News Now (KGMB / KHNL / KFVE) |
| Roles Held | Production assistant, reporter, multimedia journalist, fill-in anchor, main anchor |
| Beats Covered | Breaking news, weather, politics, community, disaster recovery |
| Major Coverage | Hawaii storms and hurricane threats, tsunami warnings, election nights, 2023 Maui wildfires |
| Platforms | Broadcast TV, station website, mobile app, social video |
For a local anchor, the numbers are less about box office and more about hours logged. Twenty-five years in one market means thousands of live shots and a deep contact list of police, firefighters, and community leaders.
Personal Life
Ben Gutierrez keeps his home life quiet. He is married and, by all public accounts, protective of his wife and kids.
He does not post family photos for clicks, and he rarely mentions his personal life on air. In a market where everyone knows everyone, that restraint earns respect.
Wife and Marriage
His wife’s name has never been confirmed in verified public records or station releases. What is clear is that the marriage is long-standing and low-key.
The couple has built their life on Oahu, close to family and the ocean. Friends describe the household as normal, busy, and centered on school schedules and weekend beach trips.
Children
Reports suggest Ben Gutierrez is a father of two. He has never shared his children’s names or ages publicly.
That choice is common among local anchors. Their kids attend Hawaii schools, and privacy protects them from being recognized at the grocery store.
Family and Roots
- Father: Hispanic-American, the source of the Gutierrez surname
- Mother: Hawaii-raised, part of a tight local extended family
- Siblings: Not publicly confirmed
- Wife: Name kept private
- Children: Two (reported)
Dating History
There is no verified public dating history. Gutierrez built his career before social media turned every anchor’s love life into content.
No confirmed past relationships, engagements, or celebrity romances appear in news archives. Any rumors you read online should be treated as unverified.
Hobbies and Interests
Off camera, he is a water person. He surfs, hikes the Ko’olau trails, and fishes when his schedule allows.
He also loves food. Plate lunches, poke bowls, and family-style gatherings show up in his social posts and community appearances.
Awards and Achievements
- Recognized with regional journalism honors for breaking news and community reporting across his career
- Praised by Hawaii community groups for sustained coverage of Native Hawaiian and local cultural issues
- More than two decades of continuous on-air service in the Honolulu television market
- Part of station teams that won recognition for disaster and severe weather coverage
- One of the most recognizable local news faces in Hawaii, with a career spanning roughly 25 years
Station press releases and industry listings credit him with team awards rather than solo trophies. That fits his style.
Physical Statistics
| Height | 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) |
| Weight | About 175 pounds (79 kg) |
| Build | Average, athletic |
| Hair Color | Dark brown |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
| Distinguishing Feature | Steady, low-key on-air presence |
| Tattoos | None visible |
Controversies
Ben Gutierrez has no verified major scandals on record. He is not a cable news pundit, so he avoids the political firestorms that follow national names.
That does not mean zero friction. Hawaii viewers are vocal, and local news social pages draw sharp comments whenever coverage touches land development, tourism, or government response to disasters.
During heavy wildfire coverage in 2023, local journalists faced intense public frustration over emergency alerts and recovery timelines. Anchors like Gutierrez were often the faces viewers vented to.
He has handled that pressure by sticking to verified facts and letting officials answer hard questions.
Favorites
- Favorite Food: Poke and plate lunch
- Favorite Sport: Surfing and college football
- Favorite Team: Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
- Favorite Place: North Shore, Oahu
- Favorite Music: Island reggae and classic rock
- Favorite Pastime: Beach days with family
- Favorite Drink: Iced coffee and fresh coconut water
Earnings
Ben Gutierrez’s exact salary is not public. Station contracts stay private, and journalists rarely share pay details.
Industry benchmarks help fill the gap. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, reporters and broadcast news analysts earned a median of roughly $60,000 per year nationwide.
Honolulu is a mid-size market with a high cost of living. Veteran anchors there typically earn between $95,000 and $150,000 a year, depending on contract length and duties.
With roughly 25 years of experience, anchoring shifts, and community appearances, his annual pay likely sits in the upper half of that range.
Estimated Net Worth Breakdown
- Salary and bonuses: $95,000 to $150,000 per year
- Total net worth: $1.5 million to $2.5 million
- Main assets: Real estate on Oahu, retirement accounts, vehicles
- Other income: Event hosting, speaking, and community appearances
Hawaii’s housing market changes these numbers fast. A single-family home on Oahu often costs over $1 million, so property alone can push a net worth estimate higher.
Interesting Facts
- He has covered Hawaii news through multiple hurricane seasons, tsunami warnings, and volcanic eruptions.
- He can pronounce Hawaiian street and place names correctly, a skill mainland reporters often lack.
- He worked behind the camera before stepping in front of it.
- He is part of a shrinking group of local anchors who built careers before streaming changed the business.
- He has interviewed everyone from governors to kupuna, and treats both with the same respect.
Did You Know?
Did you know Ben Gutierrez has spent more than two decades in one of the most isolated news markets in the United States? Hawaii stations cannot borrow crews from a nearby city, so local journalists cover everything themselves.
Did you know that Hawaii News Now combines three station brands into one newsroom? That structure means anchors like Gutierrez file stories for multiple channels and digital platforms at once.
Did you know he rarely shares personal milestones on air? Most of what fans know about his family comes from brief public mentions, not interviews.
Social Media Links
Ben Gutierrez does not maintain a large set of verified personal accounts. His on-air work appears through the station’s official channels.
- Station website: HawaiiNewsNow.com
- Facebook: Hawaii News Now official page
- X (Twitter): Hawaii News Now official account
- Instagram: Hawaii News Now official account
- YouTube: Hawaii News Now official channel
Fans looking for his reporting should follow the station handles. Any personal profile claiming to be him should be checked carefully, since impostor accounts target local anchors in every market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ben Gutierrez?
Ben Gutierrez is an American television journalist and anchor at Hawaii News Now. He reports and anchors news for viewers across Hawaii on KGMB, KHNL, and KFVE.
How old is Ben Gutierrez?
He was born on May 14, 1977, which makes him 49 years old in 2026.
How tall is Ben Gutierrez?
He stands about 5 feet 10 inches tall, or roughly 178 centimeters, and weighs around 175 pounds.
Is Ben Gutierrez married? Who is his wife?
He is married, but his wife’s name has never been confirmed publicly. The couple keeps their family life out of the spotlight.
Does Ben Gutierrez have children?
Reports indicate he is a father of two. He has not shared his children’s names or ages in public interviews.
What is Ben Gutierrez’s net worth and salary?
His net worth is estimated between $1.5 million and $2.5 million. His annual salary likely falls between $95,000 and $150,000 based on market size and experience.
Where does Ben Gutierrez work now?
He works at Hawaii News Now in Honolulu, where he continues to anchor and report in 2026.
Is Ben Gutierrez still on Hawaii News Now?
Yes. As of 2026, he remains part of the Hawaii News Now on-air team.
Conclusion
Ben Gutierrez built a career the hard way: small markets, long hours, and a steady presence in one of America’s toughest news environments. He has covered storms, elections, and heartbreak, all while keeping his family life private.
In 2026, he remains a trusted local voice in Hawaii, and that consistency is why viewers keep tuning in.
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